The UN has had its day

Submission guidelines

The United Nations, formed in 1946, is an instrument of its time and represented the geopolitical realities of the Great Powers at the end of World War II. The world today is very different.

If the UN is going to survive and continue to represent its original ideals it must modernise. There is a precedent for this. The original League of Nations was disbanded in 1946 and was succeeded by the present organisation.

Neither the General Assembly nor the Security Council is likely to vote for their own demise. The only alternative is for the principal supporters to withdraw their financial, political and moral support, thus collapsing the existing organisation and then for an international conference to be established to propose a new structure reflecting today’s realities.

Any new organisation emerging should be relocated to a less partisan city than New York (and the United States) — a country and city with a lower profile and more equitable political establishment. A large Canadian city would be ideal.

Allan M Spence, Waiuku.

Looking back

In 1979, I went with my husband and an Australian friend, both journalists, to Bastion Pt, hoping to show our support for the Māori occupiers under the leadership of Joe Hawke. It had been revealed that the Muldoon Government had plans to build a large tourist hotel complex on the scenic grassy area overlooking the harbour, despite contention over ownership of the land.

We were unceremoniously moved away by police, who were overturning tents and sending people back to their village.

Today, I look out from my Māori-builtand-owned retirement village overlooking the large grassy area, now a reserve used a lot by the general public. Sadly one rarely sees a Māori person there. Maybe its history is still too raw.

Pamela ORussell,¯ ra¯kei.

Birth daze

How times have changed since my children were born. A young mother not able to afford private after-care is routinely discharged within hours of giving birth. Left to deal with a fresh umbilical cord termination, it’s little wonder those without support at home suffer mental stress and anxiety. Did Labour address this situation in the latest budget? If so, I missed it.

National’s Nicola Willis, as a wife, mother and finance minister-hopeful, had the perfect opportunity to expose Labour’s shortcomings in healthcare but instead kept chanting a mantra about relief for the squeezed middle.

I hope, in time, National will deliver policies of more substance to improve life in New Zealand than just relying on tax cuts for the rich and letting the market decide how it’s spent.

Coralie van Camp, Remuera.

At the controls

We were told by Andrew Little on Q& on Sunday that everything is under “control”.

But my experience over the last two days, when trying to register a friend who caught Covid, shows it is challenging for anyone who does not have a cellphone plus happens to test positive for Covid late on Friday or the weekend.

The first challenge was that a cellphone was required so that a message confirming they had Covid could be sent back to them. The next challenge was that it was late on Friday and doctors’ surgeries close at the weekend. Should they require help with food, as both family members are sick with Covid, then finding something at the weekend is not really an option.

Are we running down the health system so it makes it easier to transition to the new health authority? Or just a system with many ideals and many plans but very little substance.

Robin Harrison, Takapuna.

Agenda danger

AGeorge Williams ( NZ Herald, May 20) is correct to warn of the adverse effects of some green agendas. We can see the adverse consequences of imposing one currently unfolding in Sri Lanka.

A disastrous decision led directly to the deepening of the economic and political crisis there. That was a total government ban on imports of synthetic fertilisers and agrochemicals. The Government then decreed that Sri Lankan agriculture was to use only natural, local, fertiliser. The stated aim was to become the world’s first 100 per cent organic agricultural producer. This led to a huge drop in agricultural production. Perhaps the worst economic result was that Sri Lanka went from being self-sufficient in rice, to needing emergency imports of rice.

The rest of the world now has a chance to avoid what has been shown to be unworkable.

Super content

Colin Parker, Onehunga.

I am disgusted with the comments from some superannuitants about how we have been left out of the Budget.

Our power bill of $152 was higher than usual but, with the Winter Energy Payment of $127.28, we will pay $24.72 from our super payment on May 24. The Winter Energy Payment, along with the $40 net increase to our superannuation on April 1, makes us better off financially for the first time in a long, long, time.

Sharon Marks, Greenhithe.

Hapū misery

I refer to your article ( NZ Herald, May 12) about Labour’s deputy leader attacking the Opposition parties about privilege and misery. Kelvin Davis gave an example of what happened to his hapū but did not give any date for the event.

As a person who takes a deep interest in NZ’s history, I suspect he is talking about the period in the Bay of Islands when Hōne Heke cut down the flagstaff several times, sacked Russell (Kororāreka) and overall led a rebellion which resulted in poverty to the prosperous Bay of Islands area as the Governor removed the seated Government to Auckland. There were plenty of Māori who opposed Hōne Heke’s rebellion but, because the British did not have sufficient troops to react, more and more Māori were joining the rebels.

When the British troops began to restore order there were battles with the usual economic consequences to both Māori and Pākehā residents. This was compounded by the point that in a civil war one cannot easily identify who among the population is the enemy.

Just look at Ukraine today and let your imagination wander as if this was happening in New Zealand now.

Bill Capamagian, Tauranga

Harbouring ambition

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read that the Government will spend $200 million on a study into a port in the Manukau Harbour.

Firstly, it should never be consented, on environmental grounds alone. Secondly, in these times of supply chain disruption, they should ask the shipping companies if they would be interested in using an exposed west coast port (away from all other east coast New Zealand ports) with no safe anchorage in powerful storms, a narrow entrance with a troublesome and ever-shifting sand bar and with difficult inner harbour channels to negotiate.

The first of three previous reports indicated no ship is insured if trying to enter this harbour.

I attended a NZ Herald debate in the SkyCity Theatre where members of the previous studies were present, with Transport Minister Michael Wood and Mayor Phil Goff.

Goff appeared angry and fixated on the Manukau Harbour option. I felt that those arguing for the Northport option came out on top.

Niall Robertson, Balmoral.

Change course

The Government is wasting time and money on the study of Manukau Harbour as a potential port for Auckland. I lived in that area for many years and ships have gone aground and sunk many times. It has had a fearsome record since the 1860s when 259 seamen died — the worst maritime disaster.

It has a treacherous entrance from the Tasman Sea, where the sand bar is constantly changing and produces waves over 5 metres or more. To contemplate a study as a potential port for Auckland is crazy for the Government to even consider.

Marilyn Cure, Pa¯pa¯moa.

Subliminal code

I was amused this morning while doing the politically themed Wordsearch ( NZ Herald, May 23).

I don’t know if it was a deliberate subliminal message by the setter but the juxtaposition of Labour and Māori leaning heavily to the left, over a backward-facing National was an inspired idea. Well done.

Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.

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